He was stunned. “Why did you insist on registering Amy as a citizen? Are you planning to use this to threaten me in the future? All the while, the kids who leave our village had bever been registered, but their families got paid. I heard if I were to register my child and got forced to sign some agreement, I won’t get a cent even if you harm my child! I’m not a fool!” he declared.
I was speechless at how ridiculous his conclusion was. Frowning, I told him in all seriousness, “Don’t you worry. I will pay you what you deserve. I want you to register Amy as a citizen for her own future. She’s your daughter. You won’t want her to stay in the mountains forever, right? Without a proper status, she wouldn’t be able to survive out there.”
Ronald remained unfazed. “No worries. She will marry someone from the neighboring village. Why would she need to go out there? This is her life, her fate. I won’t register her as a citizen. If you disagree, just send her back to us.”
I couldn’t understand what was going on in his mind. After a brief hesitation, I offered, “If you agree to register Amy’s birth, I’ll pay you an extra fifty thousand. Your son is in high school, right? I believe you want him to succeed in the future. If he is capable enough, I can offer him a job so he can make your family proud. How does that sound?”
Clearly, my offer caught his attention. He paused before answering. “No. The girls are going to earn money for me. Well…”
“Damn it! I’ll teach her a lesson the minute I find her!” someone was cursing outside. Soon, Ronald’s wife hurried in frantically. “Frit’s family are saying that Ann killed him after a few days! She’s missing now. The Wolfsens are coming to our family to demand an explanation!”
Ronald stood up in shock. “Killed him? Who’s dead?”
“Who else? Her mentally retarded husband! Hurry, shut the door. They are coming to kick a fuss up!” Ronald’s wife locked the door to their house hastily.
Worry spread across Ronald’s face. As he sweated profusely, he muttered, “What should we do? She killed him, so they won’t forgive us. We’ve already spent the money. What should we do?”
Seeing how anxious her husband was, tears rolled down the woman’s cheeks. “Damn you, Ann Weeder! You’re nothing but trouble!”
That piece of news took me by surprise. I thought Ann would give in instead of killing her husband and escaping from that household. Looks like I’ve underestimated her determination.
As a commotion sounded outside, the villagers gathered around Ronald’s house brandishing weapons such as sticks and knives. They yelled, “Ronald Weeder, your daughter killed my son! Come out now! I want my son back! If you don’t come out, I’ll burn your house down!”
The deceased’s parents and the rest started hurling curses at Ronald. As they criticized Ronald’s doings, I pieced together bits and pieces of accusations I had overheard.
The deceased’s name was Fritz Wolfsen. He was born with an intellectual disability, so he had a low IQ as an adult. As he was in his thirties without a wife, his parents collected and borrowed around one hundred thousand to buy him a wife from the neighboring village—Ann Weeder. The reason they were willing to spend that much on her was so she could give birth to Fritz’s offspring, but to their dismay, she kicked up a fuss and even accidentally killed Fritz. Immediately, they hurried to Ann’s family to demand an explanation.
Ronald was scared out of his wits. He sat in the chair and bit his filthy fingernails nervously.
Meanwhile, his wife urged, “What should we do? Huh? We’ve spent all the money they gave us, so there’s no way we can pay them back now. That b*tch just spells trouble!”
Ronald had spent a few hundred thousand so his son could go to school in the city.
No wonder he rejected my fifty thousand earlier as it was too little for him. Initially, I wondered why he was so frugal after selling his daughter. It was because he had spent all the money on his son.
I didn’t see his son even though I had been here twice. Clearly, he had sent his son away before I even got here. I could understand why, though. Every parent wished only the best for their children. They hoped their children would lead a different life from theirs.
As the yells grew increasingly impatient outside, Ronald trembled in fear while holding his hands together.
“What should we do? Are they really going to burn our house down?” his wife inquired uneasily.
Ronald was at a loss now. His gaze landed on me as he implored, “Ms. Stanhope, please help us!”
I pursed my lips instead of replying at once. Seeing how jumpy he was, I parted my lips and spoke. “I can help you with one condition. Register your kids as citizens of the country. If you agree, I can pay the money at once.”
Upon hearing my words, he hesitated. His terrified wife took my arm anxiously, but Boris pried her hand off and furrowed his brows. She staggered back in fear before pleading, “Please, Ms. Stanhope. You’re our only hope. We have no other choices. Please help us!”
Boris’s lips thinned as he shot them a warning glare. “I believe Ms. Stanhope has made herself clear. Nothing is free in this world.”
Ronald pondered for a while before saying, “Ms. Stanhope, we’re from different worlds. You might think I’m exploiting my children and destroying their future, but this is their fate for they are born here. No one can change that fact. I can register Amy as a citizen, no problem. But I won’t agree to register my other kids’ birth. You need to give me your word that you’ll pay me in full for Amy after I registered her birth. After that, you can do anything you want. I won’t ask questions.”
I frowned upon hearing Ronald’s answer. Suddenly, it occurred to me that he wasn’t as stupid as I thought he was. He seemed like a foolish but greedy man, but actually, he had his own plans. He was playing the innocent card. If it got leaked out, he would be portrayed as a farmer who got tricked by a businessperson. Everyone would pity him.
Ah, I shouldn’t have underestimated him. I flashed a slight smile. “Why are you so confident that I would agree to your condition?”
After calming down, he explained, “Rich people like you don’t like trouble, so you will agree. A few hundred thousand is nothing for you. People like you are willing to spend money to solve the matter. Even if you refuse to pay, never mind. Mr. Dumphy doesn’t know about you coming here to ask me to register Amy’s birth, right? If I inform him about your arrival, your daughter’s operation might be delayed further. I believe you know it better than I do.”
Ha!
I chuckled. He’s right. I shouldn’t have thought he was a fool. Shrugging, I replied, “Well, looks like you have the perfect plan.”
He stared at me. “Ms. Stanhope, that’s all I have to say. We know what we both want, so we should be honest with each other.”
Ronald was right. Alas, he didn’t know I hated being strung along. Immediately, I responded, “You’re wrong. Yes, Amy’s bone marrow is a match for my daughter, but she’s not the only choice I have. I can afford to wait for another suitable donor to come along. Your situation is different, though. Trouble is already knocking at your door. If you said nothing and accepted my offer, I wouldn’t have said anything. But since you mentioned it, I don’t feel like going along with your plan. I’m not the one in hot water, anyway.”
The people outside were trying to break in by now. The wooden door, which was originally flimsy, fell to the ground after a few burly men threw themselves against it. The villagers outside promptly rushed in with their weapons.
Ronald’s wife almost fell to her knees as she pleaded, “Ms. Stanhope, please save us. We have no other choice. If you agree to help us, we will agree to your condition. Please!”
I pursed my lips as I couldn’t help but sympathize with her. Boris stopped me and stood in front of me in a protective stance. “She can’t help you. Yes, we can afford the money, but your daughter had murdered someone. It’s useless to ask for her help.”
Realization dawned on me when I heard what Boris said. Ann had killed someone, indeed. If it was something else, I could help them with the compensation. However, someone had died here.
Earlier, Ronald’s words caused me to focus on the money instead of the matter itself. Fritz’s death couldn’t be settled by offering compensation.
The Wolfsens wouldn’t give up easily as their son was dead.
I heaved a sigh of relief. If Boris hadn’t mentioned it, I would’ve forgotten about Fritz’s death.
Ronald’s expression was grim. “Ms. Stanhope, I agree to register my children’s birth. I will agree to any condition you state.”
With a frown, Boris replied before I could. “No need!”
As we were talking, the crowd scurried into the house. Boris pulled me aside and stood in front of me protectively. As the house was tiny, only a few men stormed in.
“Ronald Weeder, why are you hiding? Your daughter killed someone. Hand her to us before we take action!”
“Let’s not waste time. Find that b*tch now so she’ll pay for killing Fritz!” With that, the men started ransacking the house.
Soon, the house was in shambles. The farmers couldn’t find Ann, so they changed their target to Ronald instead. As Ronald’s house was too small, they brought him out.
Immediately, the crowd surrounded Ronald’s family and began abusing them verbally. Fritz’s mother would’ve given Ronald a beating if someone hadn’t stopped her.
The loud commotion caused the crowd to grow bigger and bigger. Some tried to persuade the Wolfsens to discuss instead of resorting to violence; some supported their decision to avenge their son’s death. It was utter chaos. Ronald and his family were slumped on the ground in dejection.
Life was never perfect, but this hurricane rendered me helpless. Ronald knew there was nothing else he could do to turn the situation around, so he said nothing and allowed the crowd to curse and hit him.
Suddenly, someone grabbed my arm. I looked down and realized it was Amy staring at me pitifully.
“Please, Ms. Stanhope. Save my parents,” she begged.
I knitted my brows. “Amy, I can’t.”
Kindness was rare nowadays as most people had ulterior motives for doing something. I wasn’t far off. Hearing my answer, Boris sighed in relief and said, “You can’t interfere. Remember, you’re still pregnant. Don’t get yourself into trouble.”
I knew that well, hence I rejected her without hesitation.
After venting out their anger, the Wolfsens stopped beating the Weeders up. They sat down and demanded arrogantly, “A life for a life. Ronald Weeder, your daughter isn’t here, so you should pay us back. We don’t need the money back. In return, give me your second daughter.”
Ronald’s eyes widened as he roared, “Kurt Wolfsen, how dare you?”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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